In El Paso Shooting, a Soldier Saved Lives

From left, Samuel Lerma, Arzetta Hodges and Desiree Quintanar attend a vigil for victims of the deadly shooting that occurred earlier in the day at a shopping center, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, in El Paso,... (AP Photo/John Locher)

(Newser)
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Twenty people died in a hail of bullets Saturday at an El Paso mall, but officials say that the tragedy might have been worse were it not for the efforts of Glendon Oakley Jr., reports the Army Times. The 22-year-old private stationed at Fort Bliss was at a Foot Locker when a kid ran in to report the shooting. "I saw a whole bunch of kids running around without their parents … I tried to pick up as many as I could and bring them with me." Oakley says he was carrying a gun, "so all I think about is get my gun out and think fast," per Military.com. "There were so many kids that we couldn't pick them all up ... me and the other guy tried our best to get as many out as possible," Oakley said. Change.org has a petition seeking to award Oakley with the Soldier's Medal. (Read more mass shootings stories.)

Give him a medal for picking up kids and taking them outside? He could have saved more lives by simply heading toward the gunfire discretely, and using his gun to render justice for the shooter. I think I'd risk a stray bullet or two and take care of the problem at the source, instead of providing extra time for the shooter to continue his killing spree. Then, I'd agree to a medal for him.